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    Growth Hormone / IGF-1 AxisPhase 2

    Ipamorelin Dosage Guide: Protocols, Calculator & Safety

    Everything you need to know about Ipamorelin dosing: protocols, safety, and where to buy.

    Dose Range

    100-300 mcg subcutaneous 1-3x daily (most commonly 200-300 mcg pre-bedtime); often combined with CJC-1295 without DAC at 100-300 mcg

    Frequency

    1–3 times daily; most commonly once at bedtime

    Cycle Length

    8–16 weeks; can be used long-term with periodic breaks

    Half-Life

    ~2 hours (plasma)

    Administration Routes

    subcutaneousintravenous (clinical only)

    Quick Reconstitution Calculator

    Calculate syringe units instantly

    Syringe Draw

    10.0 units

    2500 mcg/ml · 0.100 ml draw

    Full Tool

    For laboratory research use only. This tool performs reconstitution math (concentration and syringe-unit conversion) and is not dosing guidance for humans or animals.

    Dosing Protocols

    Beginner

    Goal: learn the injection workflow and assess personal response before adding a stack partner.

    Standalone ipamorelin — weeks 1-4

    • Dose: 200 mcg subcutaneous, once daily
    • Timing: Pre-bed, fasted (≥2 hours after last meal, no carbs before injection)
    • Why fasted: Elevated insulin and blood glucose blunt the GH response to any secretagogue. A fasted window is non-negotiable for proper dosing
    • Site: Abdominal subcutaneous fat, rotate sites (L/R of navel, ~2 inches from midline)
    • Needle: 29-31G × 1/2" insulin syringe
    • Reconstitution: 5 mg vial + 2 mL bacteriostatic water = 2.5 mg/mL; 200 mcg = 0.08 mL (8 units on a 1 mL syringe)
    • Storage: Refrigerate reconstituted vial; use within 30 days

    What to track (weeks 1-4)

    • Sleep quality (subjective 1-10 daily)
    • Morning recovery / soreness
    • Appetite in the evening (ghrelin effect)
    • Any head-heaviness, tingling, or injection-site reactions

    Beginners should NOT:

    • Combine with CJC-1295 / MOD-GRF 1-29 in week 1 (assess tolerance first)
    • Exceed 200 mcg per injection
    • Inject pre-workout or after meals

    At week 4, reassess: if tolerated well, progress to the intermediate stacked protocol. If poor response (no sleep improvement, minimal subjective effect), review injection technique and consider the intermediate protocol with the GHRH partner — which is where the real GH pulse amplitude comes from.

    Standard

    Goal: exploit the GHRH × ghrelin synergy for maximal pulse amplitude. This is the standard biohacking configuration.

    Ipamorelin + MOD-GRF 1-29 (CJC-1295 without DAC) — 8 weeks

    • Ipamorelin dose: 200 mcg SC
    • MOD-GRF 1-29 dose: 100 mcg SC (same injection — they can be drawn into the same syringe)
    • Frequency: 2x daily (pre-bed + morning fasted) OR 1x daily pre-bed
    • Timing windows:
      • Pre-bed: 2+ hours post-meal, within 30 min of lights-out — amplifies the natural nocturnal GH pulse
      • Morning fasted: immediately upon waking, 45-60 min before first meal — second pulse timed against low insulin/glucose
      • Optional pre-workout: 30-45 min before training, only if post-meal >2 hours (many users drop this dose because peri-workout injection can blunt the training-induced GH pulse)

    Why 2x vs 1x daily

    • 1x daily (pre-bed) = the conservative, sleep-focused protocol; most reported benefit for recovery and sleep
    • 2x daily (pre-bed + morning) = the "body composition" protocol; ~30% higher steady-state IGF-1 but also higher fluid retention

    Cycling — 8 weeks on / 4 weeks off

    The conservative default. Mechanistically, ipamorelin + MOD-GRF 1-29 do not produce the sustained receptor occupancy that drives tachyphylaxis, but the off-cycle supports:

    • Baseline HPA axis integrity
    • Insulin sensitivity recovery
    • IGF-1 washout

    Bloodwork

    • Baseline: Fasting glucose, HbA1c, IGF-1, testosterone, PSA (men >40), CBC, comprehensive metabolic panel
    • Week 4: Fasting glucose, IGF-1
    • End of cycle: Full panel

    Flags that require dose reduction or cessation

    • IGF-1 above the age-adjusted reference range upper limit (generally >250 ng/mL in adults 30-50)
    • HbA1c rising >0.3 points within one cycle
    • Persistent peripheral edema or carpal tunnel symptoms
    • Fasting glucose consistently >105 mg/dL
    Advanced

    Goal: maximize GH pulse density within the physiologic envelope. For experienced users with baseline labs and a longitudinal monitoring plan.

    Tri-daily ipamorelin + MOD-GRF 1-29 — 8-12 weeks

    • Dose per injection: 100-200 mcg ipamorelin + 100 mcg MOD-GRF 1-29
    • Frequency: 3x daily
      • Injection 1: Morning fasted (immediately upon waking)
      • Injection 2: Midday (45-60 min before lunch, fasted ≥2 hours)
      • Injection 3: Pre-bed (2+ hours post-meal)
    • Rationale: Each injection produces a discrete GH pulse; 3x/day roughly mimics the natural ~3-5 pulse/day frequency of the adult GH rhythm

    Alternative advanced configuration: ipamorelin + tesamorelin

    Tesamorelin is a 44-amino-acid stabilized GHRH analog FDA-approved for HIV-associated lipodystrophy. It has longer GHRH-receptor occupancy than MOD-GRF 1-29 and produces a more durable GH pulse. For visceral fat-focused protocols:

    • 100 mcg ipamorelin SC + 2 mg tesamorelin SC, once daily pre-bed
    • Stronger effect on visceral adiposity than MOD-GRF 1-29; higher cost; prescription-grade in the US

    Stacking with exercise

    The peri-workout dose is controversial. Training itself produces the largest endogenous GH pulse of the day (especially resistance training and HIIT); adding ipamorelin pre-workout can blunt this via negative feedback. Most advanced protocols skip the peri-workout injection or place it ≥4 hours from training.

    Cycling considerations

    • 12 weeks on / 4-6 weeks off is the upper-end biohacking protocol
    • Long-term (>6 months continuous) dosing is not well-characterized in healthy adults — users doing this should monitor bloodwork monthly, not quarterly
    • Full HPA and IGF-1 washout on the off-cycle helps confirm no tachyphylaxis or insulin-sensitivity drift

    Contraindications specific to advanced dosing

    • Any active malignancy (GH/IGF-1 axis may accelerate tumor growth)
    • Active diabetic retinopathy
    • Severe insulin resistance or uncontrolled T2DM
    • History of acromegaly or pituitary adenoma

    Weight-Based Dosing

    Typically 1–3 mcg/kg per injection. Standard flat dose of 200 mcg is suitable for most.

    Commonly Stacked With

    Tier 1 — The "must-stack" pairing: CJC-1295 / MOD-GRF 1-29 at 100 mcg per ipamorelin injection. This is the canonical GHS stack. Same injection, same syringe. Without this pairing, ipamorelin produces a real but modest GH pulse; with it, the pulse is 3-5x larger and the protocol becomes meaningfully anabolic ([Bowers et al., 1991]).

    Tier 2 — Synergistic body-composition stacks:

    • Semaglutide or Tirzepatide — for users on GLP-1 therapy pursuing body recomposition, ipamorelin + MOD-GRF 1-29 preserves lean mass during the caloric deficit. Time the GH secretagogue pulse opposite to the GLP-1 peak to avoid compounding appetite effects
    • BPC-157 + TB-500 — the "healing stack". GH/IGF-1 elevation accelerates collagen synthesis that BPC-157 and TB-500 enable. Particularly useful for tendon / ligament rehab
    • Testosterone (TRT) or clomiphene — the HPG and GH axes are complementary; combined use is the standard in integrative hormone optimization clinics
    • NAD+ / NR / NMN — mitochondrial co-factor support for the protein-synthesis demand created by elevated IGF-1

    Tier 3 — Advanced / selective stacks:

    • Epithalon — longevity-framed stack combining GH axis amplification with telomere / pineal support
    • GHK-Cu — skin / connective tissue regeneration synergy

    DO NOT stack:

    • Other ghrelin-receptor agonists (GHRP-2, GHRP-6, hexarelin, MK-677) — redundant at the receptor; no additive benefit; stacks the side-effect burden (GHRP-2/6 elevate cortisol and prolactin)
    • Exogenous recombinant GH (Somatropin) — defeats the purpose; somatropin directly replaces GH, bypassing the pituitary pulse mechanism ipamorelin enables. Use one or the other

    Timing alignment: Ipamorelin and MOD-GRF 1-29 can be drawn into the same syringe and injected together — the peptides are chemically compatible in BAC water for the brief period between draw and injection. For multi-compound stacks (ipamorelin + MOD-GRF + BPC-157), use separate injection sites — BPC-157 is dosed differently (often daily) and benefits from local rather than systemic delivery.

    Side Effects & Safety

    Ipamorelin has the **cleanest side-effect profile** of any ghrelin-receptor agonist, which is why it dominates modern biohacking protocols. The profile is driven by (a) selective GHS-R1a agonism without cross-receptor activity, and (b) acute GH elevation (the same side effects any GH-secretagogue produces). **Common (>10% of users, usually mild and transient)** - **Injection site reactions** - erythema, pruritus, mild pain; resolves within hours, mitigated by injection site rotation and proper reconstitution technique - **Mild fatigue or head-heaviness 10-30 min post-injection** - thought to reflect the acute GH pulse; typically subsides within an hour - **Transient hunger / appetite increase** - direct ghrelin-receptor effect on hypothalamic feeding neurons; much less pronounced than GHRP-6 because ipamorelin's shorter duration limits tonic appetite stimulation - **Vivid dreams or altered sleep architecture** - usually a positive effect (deeper SWS); occasionally reported as disruptive in the first week **Uncommon (1-10%)** - **Water retention / mild peripheral edema** - dose-dependent GH effect; usually visible at doses >400 mcg per injection or >3 injections/day - **Transient tingling / paresthesias in hands** - early sign of water retention / peripheral compression; resolves with dose reduction - **Joint stiffness or achiness** - IGF-1-mediated; typically appears 2-4 weeks into dosing as steady-state IGF-1 rises - **Headache** - usually mild; typically resolves with continued dosing or hydration **Rare but important** - **Insulin resistance / elevated fasting glucose** - all GH-elevating therapies impair glucose tolerance; typically not clinically significant at biohacking doses (100-300 mcg) but can become measurable at >600 mcg/day or with prolonged use. Diabetics and pre-diabetics should monitor HbA1c - **Carpal tunnel symptoms** - fluid-shift-mediated; resolves on cessation - **Hypersensitivity reactions** - rare but documented; usually to a residual contaminant or preservative rather than ipamorelin itself **What ipamorelin does NOT do (in contrast to other GHS peptides)** - Does NOT elevate cortisol ([Raun et al., 1998](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849822/), shown in swine) - Does NOT elevate prolactin (important for men concerned about gynecomastia on other GHS peptides) - Does NOT elevate ACTH - Does NOT affect gonadotropins (LH, FSH) or TSH - Does NOT cause the "mega-hunger" of GHRP-6 (tonic ghrelin activation) - the short duration keeps appetite effects transient **Long-term uncertainty** The ipamorelin evidence base is short-duration - the longest human exposure on record is ~7 days, in the Beck 2014 post-operative ileus trial (which did not meet its efficacy endpoint). Biohacking use at 200-300 mcg/day for 3-6 months is extrapolated from pharmacology, not validated. Unknowns include: - Chronic effects on insulin sensitivity - IGF-1-related cancer risk (the GH/IGF-1 axis is implicated in some epithelial cancers; no ipamorelin-specific data) - Pituitary somatotroph response to long-term dosing (tachyphylaxis is theoretical but not well-characterized) **Users should monitor**: fasting glucose, HbA1c, IGF-1 (baseline and 4-6 weeks), PSA (men >40). Cycle protocols (8 weeks on / 4 weeks off) are the conservative approach although the mechanistic need for cycling is debated.

    Contraindications

    **Absolute contraindications** - **Active malignancy** — GH and IGF-1 are trophic factors for multiple cancer cell lines. While ipamorelin-specific cancer data does not exist, the GH/IGF-1 axis is implicated in colorectal, prostate, breast, and hepatocellular cancer progression ([Renehan et al., 2004]). Do not use during active cancer treatment or within 5 years of complete remission without oncologist clearance - **Known or suspected pituitary tumor / acromegaly** — superimposing exogenous secretagogue on an already-hyperactive somatotroph axis can accelerate tumor growth and precipitate acromegalic complications - **Active diabetic retinopathy** — GH elevation can worsen proliferative retinopathy; absolute contraindication until retinopathy is stabilized - **Pregnancy or breastfeeding** — no safety data; do not use - **Age <18** — no pediatric safety data; pediatric GHD is managed with prescription GHRH analogs (sermorelin) under endocrinology supervision, not biohacking protocols **Relative contraindications (consult physician before use)** - **Type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes** — GH elevation impairs insulin sensitivity; use requires careful glucose monitoring and may accelerate progression in borderline cases - **Uncontrolled hypertension** — fluid retention can exacerbate blood pressure - **History of carpal tunnel syndrome** — fluid retention and connective tissue expansion can worsen symptoms - **Hypothyroidism** — thyroid status affects GH axis; optimize thyroid first - **History of pituitary or hypothalamic surgery or radiation** — altered GHRH/ghrelin receptor status; unpredictable response **Drug interactions** - **Insulin and oral hypoglycemics** — ipamorelin's effect on glucose tolerance may require dose adjustments of antidiabetic medications - **Corticosteroids** — chronic systemic corticosteroids suppress the GH axis and blunt ipamorelin response - **Recombinant GH (Somatropin)** — redundant; do not combine - **Other GHS peptides** — do not stack (see stacking notes) **Monitoring requirements for users** - **Baseline labs:** Fasting glucose, HbA1c, IGF-1, complete metabolic panel, CBC, PSA (men >40), full thyroid panel - **4-6 weeks into dosing:** Fasting glucose, IGF-1 (confirm within age-appropriate range) - **End of each cycle:** Full panel; look for HbA1c creep, PSA changes, IGF-1 elevation above age-adjusted ULN **Discontinuation criteria** Stop ipamorelin and consult a clinician if you develop: - Persistent peripheral edema or facial swelling - New or worsening carpal tunnel symptoms - IGF-1 levels >300 ng/mL (supraphysiologic in most adults) - Fasting glucose persistently >110 mg/dL or HbA1c rising >0.4 points - Any new palpable mass, changing mole, or unexplained weight loss (cancer workup indicated) - Severe headache, visual changes (rule out pituitary pathology)

    Check interactions with the Interaction Checker →

    Additional Notes

    Standard therapeutic range: 100-300 mcg SC per injection, 1-3x daily.

    Dose-response is roughly linear from 50 mcg to 300 mcg IV ([Gobburu et al., 1999]). Above 300 mcg, GH pulse amplitude plateaus while side effect burden (fluid retention, hunger, paresthesias) rises. More is not better past ~300 mcg per injection — run more frequent smaller pulses instead if you want higher total exposure.

    Fasted state is non-negotiable. Elevated insulin suppresses GH release through multiple mechanisms (increased somatostatin tone, reduced somatotroph sensitivity). Post-meal dosing can reduce GH pulse amplitude by 50-70%. The two reliably fasted windows:

    • Pre-bed (2+ hours post-meal, evening meal finished by 7pm for a 9pm injection)
    • Morning wake (before first food)

    Dose scaling by goal

    • Sleep and recovery focus: 200 mcg pre-bed, 1x daily, no stack partner required (though MOD-GRF 1-29 amplifies effect 3-5x)
    • Body composition: 200 mcg + 100 mcg MOD-GRF 1-29, 2x daily (pre-bed + morning fasted)
    • Connective tissue / injury recovery: 300 mcg + 100 mcg MOD-GRF 1-29, 2-3x daily, often stacked with BPC-157 and TB-500

    Dose conversions

    • 5 mg vial + 2 mL BAC water = 2.5 mg/mL (2500 mcg/mL)
    • 100 mcg = 0.04 mL = 4 units on a 1 mL insulin syringe
    • 200 mcg = 0.08 mL = 8 units
    • 300 mcg = 0.12 mL = 12 units

    See the Reconstitution Tool for any vial size / BAC water combination.

    Interactions with nutrition

    • Carbohydrates and protein both elevate insulin, blunting GH response
    • Caffeine does not interfere and may amplify the SWS effect
    • Alcohol suppresses GH secretion independently and synergistically blunts ipamorelin effect — avoid within 4 hours of dosing

    Where to Buy Ipamorelin

    Compare 5 listings across 3 vendors, from $24.99

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the recommended Ipamorelin dosage?

    The typical dose range for Ipamorelin is 100-300 mcg subcutaneous 1-3x daily (most commonly 200-300 mcg pre-bedtime); often combined with CJC-1295 without DAC at 100-300 mcg. It is usually administered 1–3 times daily; most commonly once at bedtime. Always start with the lowest effective dose.

    How often should I take Ipamorelin?

    1–3 times daily; most commonly once at bedtime

    Does Ipamorelin need to be cycled?

    Yes, typical cycle length is 8–16 weeks; can be used long-term with periodic breaks.

    What are Ipamorelin side effects?

    Ipamorelin has the **cleanest side-effect profile** of any ghrelin-receptor agonist, which is why it dominates modern biohacking protocols. The profile is driven by (a) selective GHS-R1a agonism without cross-receptor activity, and (b) acute GH elevation (the same side effects any GH-secretagogue produces). **Common (>10% of users, usually mild and transient)** - **Injection site reactions** - erythema, pruritus, mild pain; resolves within hours, mitigated by injection site rotation and proper reconstitution technique - **Mild fatigue or head-heaviness 10-30 min post-injection** - thought to reflect the acute GH pulse; typically subsides within an hour - **Transient hunger / appetite increase** - direct ghrelin-receptor effect on hypothalamic feeding neurons; much less pronounced than GHRP-6 because ipamorelin's shorter duration limits tonic appetite stimulation - **Vivid dreams or altered sleep architecture** - usually a positive effect (deeper SWS); occasionally reported as disruptive in the first week **Uncommon (1-10%)** - **Water retention / mild peripheral edema** - dose-dependent GH effect; usually visible at doses >400 mcg per injection or >3 injections/day - **Transient tingling / paresthesias in hands** - early sign of water retention / peripheral compression; resolves with dose reduction - **Joint stiffness or achiness** - IGF-1-mediated; typically appears 2-4 weeks into dosing as steady-state IGF-1 rises - **Headache** - usually mild; typically resolves with continued dosing or hydration **Rare but important** - **Insulin resistance / elevated fasting glucose** - all GH-elevating therapies impair glucose tolerance; typically not clinically significant at biohacking doses (100-300 mcg) but can become measurable at >600 mcg/day or with prolonged use. Diabetics and pre-diabetics should monitor HbA1c - **Carpal tunnel symptoms** - fluid-shift-mediated; resolves on cessation - **Hypersensitivity reactions** - rare but documented; usually to a residual contaminant or preservative rather than ipamorelin itself **What ipamorelin does NOT do (in contrast to other GHS peptides)** - Does NOT elevate cortisol ([Raun et al., 1998](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9849822/), shown in swine) - Does NOT elevate prolactin (important for men concerned about gynecomastia on other GHS peptides) - Does NOT elevate ACTH - Does NOT affect gonadotropins (LH, FSH) or TSH - Does NOT cause the "mega-hunger" of GHRP-6 (tonic ghrelin activation) - the short duration keeps appetite effects transient **Long-term uncertainty** The ipamorelin evidence base is short-duration - the longest human exposure on record is ~7 days, in the Beck 2014 post-operative ileus trial (which did not meet its efficacy endpoint). Biohacking use at 200-300 mcg/day for 3-6 months is extrapolated from pharmacology, not validated. Unknowns include: - Chronic effects on insulin sensitivity - IGF-1-related cancer risk (the GH/IGF-1 axis is implicated in some epithelial cancers; no ipamorelin-specific data) - Pituitary somatotroph response to long-term dosing (tachyphylaxis is theoretical but not well-characterized) **Users should monitor**: fasting glucose, HbA1c, IGF-1 (baseline and 4-6 weeks), PSA (men >40). Cycle protocols (8 weeks on / 4 weeks off) are the conservative approach although the mechanistic need for cycling is debated.

    Where can I buy Ipamorelin?

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